UNITED NATIONS
ECONOMIC
SOCIAL COUNCIL AND
Distr/
LIMITED
E/CN.14/CAS.5/16 29 September 1967
Original; ENGLISHECONOMIC COMMISSION POE AFRICA
Fifth Conference of African Statisticians
Addis Ababa, 30 October - 10 November 1967
f
DOCUMENTS OI-
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TAKEN KICE
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DRAFT REPORT OF THE SEMINAR ON HOUSING STATISTICS
AND PROGRAMMES FOR AFRICA
Copenhagen, Denmark, 31 August - 15 September 1966
H67-1232
Table of Contents
CHAPTER I
ORGANIZATION AND DEVELOPMENT OP THE SEMINAR
A. Date, Site and Sponsorship
B. Origin and objectives of the Seminar o
C. Participation D. Inaugural meeting
E. Programme of the Seminar J
F. Development of the programme G. Documentation 7
CHAPTER II
WORLD HOUSING CONDITIONS AND INTERNATIONAL ACTION
IN THE FIELD OF HOUSING
A. World housing conditions and estimated housing requirements 9 B. Housing needs in the developing regions and in Europe,
North Africa and the U.S.S.R. 13
C. Housing conditions and Policies in Africa 15 D. The role of the United Nations the Regional Commissions 22
and the Specialized Agencies in the field of housing,
"building and planning
Major activities of the Secretariat and the regional
commissions
United Nations and Specialized Agencies joint projects 26 Committee on housing, building and planning 2b Centre for Housing, Building and Planning 29 Role of the Statistical Office in the field of housing 30
Economic Commission for Africa -^
The role of the Economic Commission for Africa
in Housing Statistics 3?
B/C3T. 14/CAS. 5/16
Page (ii)
Table of Contents
A. The Danish experience -,
Financing of Housing programmes A. The Danish experiei
B. Problems in Africa
Evaluation of th<for construction CHAPTER III
FORMULATION MB IMPLMENTATOT OP HOUSING PROGRAMS
1. General aspects of planning and programming 36 2. Description and measurement of housing conditions " 42
3. Estimates of housing needs A. General methodology
44B. Methods of estimation
C Availability in Africa of the statistics required w
lor estimating housing needs . J
D. Danish Housing Requirements 1960-80 ca
E. Summary
4. Place of housing in national development policies and 55
Programme s5. Cost of dwelling construction
56 Introduction60
60
62
Action tc be taken for raising the productivity of labour
in xne costruction industry
A^iOn^° he t3ken for reducti«g the cost of production of building materials
Acceptable standards for dwelling fi^
"Initial" cost and "total" cost of housing g4
Some special considerations in Africa g4
Social aspects of housing and the ability of the
households to pay for housing 66
Evaluation of the present and future resourses required
72TOT1 nAyio + Tiii/i + i ^^-1 ^
75
Administrative and Organizational requirements for the
preparation and implementation of housing programmes 79
e/cn.h/cas.5/16 Page (iii)
Table of Contents (Cont'd)
Page
CHAPTER IV
STATISTICS REQUIRED FOR THE FORMULATION AND IMPLEMENTATION.
OF HOUSING PROGRAKTT3S
1. Summary of statistics required for housing programmes 82
2. Estimates of accumulated housing needs 5
3. Estimates of future housing needs
4. Evaluation of the present and future capacity of the
construction industry
5. Appraisal of the building materials industry 88 6. Assessment of the economic significance of housing 88 7. Cost of housing (including land, material and labour) 89 8. Ability of households to pay for housing "
Evaluation of financial resource available for housing programmes 10. Evaluation of housing programmes 91
National accounts data required for the formulation of housing
programmes
A. Gfc'ne.ral considerations 93
B. The relevant national accounting concepts 94
C. Problems of collection "
Demographic data required for the formulation of housing ^
programmes
A. Sources and problems of collection 10°
B. Characteristics of the population at the beginning
of the planning periodC. Projections of population and households 106 D. Availability of basic demographic data in Africa HO 9. Evaluation of financial resources required and/or
i s
14/CAS.5/16
Page (iv)
CHAPTER IV (Cont'd) 4* Housing censuses
Principles and Recommendations For the building
Population in the housing unit (available from the population
census, if conducted simultaneously) population
For the housing unit Tabulations
a. Basic tabulations
The special problem of internal migration
Population register and census-taking in Denmark 5- Sample surveys on housing
Integration of and relationship between sample surveys
^^ and *8neral Gensuses of population and
6.
of enumeration units
Successive stage in numbering by sampling Current Housing Statistics
Purposes for which current housing statistics are needed and the type of data required
A. Establishment of housing programmes B. Implementation of housing programmes
C General economic analysis and the formulation of
general economic policies
Regional programmes on current housing statistics Availability of current housing statistics in
countries of EGA region
112 112 116
117
118.
118 120 121
121
123
124 125
125 125
126127 128
132
E/GN.14/CAS.5/16 Page (v)
Table of Contents (Cont'd)
Page
CHAPTER V
RESEARCH, TRAINING AND INFORMATION IN HOUSING, BUILDING
AND PLANNING
A. Research, training and information of the technical
and planning side, in the region a. Professionals
b. Semi-professional 0. '3cilled
B. Research and training in housing statistics in the
region
CHAPTER VI
ADMINISTRATIVE AND ORGANIZATIONAL ARRANGEMENTS REQUIRED FOR COLLECTING STATISTICAL DATA FOR HOUSING PROGRAMMES
A. The organization of an agency responsible for statistical information on which to base a housing
programmes **'
B. The utilization of existing resources 13o C. The establishment of new public bodies for the
planning and implementation of housing programmes
and the possibilities of creating new sources of
statistical information ^41
CHAPTER VII
Recommendations 143
Statistic* for the formulation of housing programmes 146
a. Estimates of housing needs
"b. Housing censuses c. Housing surveys d. Current statistics
e. Statistical indicators of housing conditions
I - LIST OF PARTICIPANTS, OBSERVERS & STAFF
II - AGENDA OF MEETINGIII - LIST OF FORKING PAPERS AND REFERENCE PAPERS ANNEX IV - HOUSING CONDITIONS AJSD POLICIES IN DENMARK
V - OUTLINE FOR THE REPORTS EREPARSD BY THE PARTICIPANTS CONCERNING HOUSING STATISTICS AND PROGRAMMES IN THEIR
COUNTRIES
E/CK.14/CAS.5A6
CHAPTER I
ORGANIZATION 0D DEVELOPMENT OP THE SEMINAR
A. Date, site and sponsorship
1. The Seminar on Housing Statistics and Programmes for Africa was convened in accordance with the United Nations Long-range Programme of
Concerted International Action in the Field of Housing and Related Community Facilities^ and took place from 31 August to 15 September 1966 at "Rolighed",
an estate situated near Copenhagen. The Seminar was sponsored by the United Nations and the Government of Denmark. It was organised as part of the
United Nations Expanded Programme of Technical Assistance and was made possible by a special contribution from the Danish Government.
2. Within the United Nations, the Statistical Office, the Centre for Housing, Building and Planning, the Bureau of Technical Assistance
Operations, the Economic Commission for Africa and the Economic Commission for Europe collaborated in organizing the Seminar.
3. The Danish authorities assumed responsibility for, and direction of, all Seminar activities conducted in their country. Danish experts partici pated in all topics of the programme and Danish experience, served to
demonstrate how the problems were tackled in actual practice in Denmark.
Responsibility for the preparation of the documentation for the Seminar was shared by the Danish Ministry of Housing and the sponsoring and
collaborating agencies. The sponsoring agencies also provided the services of lecturers and discussion leaders.—/
1/ United Kations, Social Commission, Report of the Twelfth Session
(27 April - 15 May 1966) Economic and Social Council, Official Records, twenty-eight session, Supplement No. 11, (E/3265/Rev.l-E/CN.5/343/Rev.l)
Annex III, Resolution A.
2/ For a complete list of the Seminar staff, see section 3 of appendix I.
K/CN.14/CAS.5/16
Page 2
4
The Economic Commission for Africa assumed centra! responsibility for organizing the Seminar, for co-ordinating the preparation of the documentat
ion and for the preparation of the report of the Seminar.
B* Origin and objectives of the Seminar
5. The Seminar was the fourth in a series on housing statistics and
programmes organized for the benefit of participants from housing agencies and statistical offices in developing countries of the various regions.
The fxrst, which was for Europe, was held in Zagreb, Yugoslavia, in I96l,
and the second and third for the Latin American and Asian regions respectively in Copenhagen in 1962 and 1963. This, the fourth Seminar in the series, was
convened to serve the needs of the countries of Africa.
6. Although reliable statistical evidence is not yet available on a
comprehensive basis in Africa, it seems clear that in the African region, as ln Latin America and in Asia, there are serious housing deficiences.
Country reports prepared for the Seminar high-light a critical housing- shortage particularly among low-income groups in urban areas and, in rural areas, an almost total lack of elementary facilities. Moreover, there is the danger that, without strong action by national governments, the
situation will deteriorate even further with the pressure of population growth and competition among the various sectors for the scarce resources.
7. Reports from governments attribute these conditions to lack of adequate planning to the generally low level of investment in housing;
to demographic pressure in general and to rapid rates of rural/urban migration to high construction costs; to low levels of income in
relation to housing costs; to the inadequacy of the building industry and "
to an almost universal lack of financial resources.
B/GN.H/CAS.5A6
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8. The magnitude of housing needs and the scarcity of resources with which to meet these needs call for a comprehensive assessment to he made
of" the housing situation in relation to other sectors of the economy and the establishment of a well-considered system of targets and priorties to ensure the rational use of the available resources. These tasks can he most effectively carried out through the formulation of national housing
policies and programmes as part of overall development plans. In thxs connexion, statistical data constitute an important tool for assessing the housing situation in quantitative and qualitative terms, for effective
projections and programming of housing and community facilities, and for the
evaluation of housing policies and technologies.
9. In view of the foregoing, the Seminar was organized to mobilize experience concerning methods of formulating national housing programmes, to analyze the successive steps involved and to arrive at some conclusions
concerning the statistical data most urgently required for the planning process and the best methods of obtaining them. The greatest emphasis was placed on an exchange of experience among representatives of African
countries. Prom these countries, the Seminar brought together statisticians dealing with the collection and analysis of housing statistics, and
representatives of housing agencies or institutes engaged in the
formulation of housing programmes. Although the African experinece and requirements in these matters are unique in certain respects, some aspects are common to all regions, and the relevant experience was introduced by
jeans of suitable representation and working paperw.
C. Participation
10. Thirty-one participants from twenty-two countries attended the
Seminar. In selecting participants, one of the aims was to maintain a
balance between officials engaged in the formulation and implementation of
housing programmes and those responsible for collecting and analyzing the
B/CK.14/CAS.5/16
Page 4
statistics required, while at the same time achieving a balanced geographic representation, as far as Africa was concerned. To a large extent this was accomplished. Seventeen of the participants were directly engaged in the formulation and execution of housing programmes, and fourteen were
responsible for the collection and analysis of statistics for housing
programmes.
11. The countries represented were: Burundi, Republic of the Congo,
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dahomey, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Libya, Malagasy, Malawi, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Somalia,
Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, United Arab Republic and Zambia.
D. Inaugural meeting
12. The official opening took place at the Danish Building Centre,
Copenhagen, on 31 August 1966. Statements were made by Professor P. Nyboe Andersen, Head of the Danish Council for Technical Co-operation with
Developing Countries* Mr. Einer Engberg, Chief of Section, Ministry of Housing (Director of the Seminar); Mr. A.L. Mullier, Head, Statistics and Demography Division, Economic Commission for Africa (Co-director of the Seminar), and Mr. Eric Carlson, Chief of the Housing Section, Centre for Housing, Building and Planning. .Mr. Mullier spoke on behalf of Mr. R.K.A.
Gardiner, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa, and Mr. Carlson on.behalf of Mr. Philippe de Seynes, Under-Secrotary,
Department of Economic and Social Affairs,.United Nations,
13- In his message, Mr. Gardiner drew attention to the effort which xnternational agencies and national governments were making to achieve higher levels of living and to the importance of sound and hygienic housing as one means of attaining such levels. He'noted that no country in thV world can claim to have completely solved its housing problems, but drew attention to the fact that in the less developed areas the situation is understandably more acute since there is not only a serious lack of '
resources, but these resources have to be allocated to meet needs which are
E/CH.14/CAS.5/16
Page 5
increasing progressively *ith high and rising rates of population growth.
Furthermore, the changing pattern of population distribution, particularly the rapid movement from rural to urban areas, is creating crucial zones of sub-standard living. ^hile the Seminar could not hope to provide ready-made solutions to the housing problems of Africa, he felt that methods could be demostrated by which planners would be enabled to visualize more clearly the housing needs of the population in relation to other needs and be able to predict with greater reliability the possible economic and social consequen ces of alternate decisions. He stressed the importance of reliable
statistical data in this respect and the importance of the closest collaborat
ion between planners and statisticians.
14. Mr. de Seynes' statement sounded a note of warning with respect to the goals established for housing as part of the programme for the Development Decade. He noted that although we are halfway through The Development Decade, neither have construction costs been lowered to the target figure, nor has
the number of dwellings actually built been more than a fraction of the original goals. In fact, he added, the overallhousing situation has further detriorated due to population growth, urban congestion, neglect of existing housing stock, shortage of funds, of material and of technical personnel.
He felt, nevertheless, that the Seminar exemplified a growing awareness of this probler. and that it vas taking place at a time when there is increased
attention and assistance at the international level to housing programmes.
He noted, however, that programmes of the size and scope required can be established only on the basis of adequate statistics for evaluation of
existing conditions and for future projections. He expressed his confidence that, after working together at the Seminar, the statisticians and housing administrators present would more effectively plan and programme housing development in accordance with social and economic objectives.
E. Programme of the Seminar
15. The discussion of the topics included in the programme was preceded by a
general discussion of housing conditions in the various regions with special
reference to housing programmes and the availability of the
E/CN.14/CAS.5/16
Page 6
statistics required for. their formulation and implementation in countries of the African region. This was followed by a discussion of the principal
aspects.to be taken into account in the formulation of housing.programmes and.of the relevant statistics required,as well as the. administrative . arrangements required ■'both for the formulation and execution of housing programmes and for collecting the necessary statistical data.F. Development of the programme :
16. Responsibility for organizing the meetings concerned with each of the
major subjects, of the programme was entrusted to one member of the staff, who acted as organizer. In addition, a chairman and a rapporteur were selected for each session from the participants. The chairman assumed responsibility for conducting the meeting, and the rapporteurs, in'
consultation with the organizers, for preparing the draft reports concerning their respective sessions.
17. Guides for discussion were prepared, drawing attention to the main
issues to be considered in connexion with each topic and showing the mainworking .papers and reference documents available in each case. These guides
were used in preparatory meetings attended by the organizers, chairman, rapporteur and the staff and participants who were to participate more actively in each session.. An agenda of the meeting, giving a list of the topics with the dates when they were discussed and the names of chairman, rapporteurs and organizers^ is given in appendix II.18. Draft reports on each session were prepared during the course of the
Seminar and reviewed by a drafting committee composed of participants and staff members, 'The.s.e reports were, submitted, for the consideration: of theSeminar at the conclusion of the programme. On; the basis of::the ensuing discussions the Economic Commission for Africa prepared,.the final version
of the report.
E/CN.14/CAS.5/16
Page 7
19. The Banish authorities made arrangements for field visits to a number
of "buildings and "building sites, among others: Albertslund (3,500 non-profit, prefabricated one-family houses for letting), Carlsro (600 non-profit terrace
houses and 300 apartments), and Hoje Gladsaxe (1,900 non-profit, prefabricatedapartments).
20. Arrangements were also made for the participants and staff to visit a factory in the neighbourhood of Copenhagen which manufactures prefabricated housing elements and the building sites where such elements were "being used.
The participants took advantage of the opportunity to observe, in actual practice, these modern building methods and to discuss requirements for the successful implementation of prefabrication and the dependency of this type of industry upon the existence of clearly established government policies and programmes with respect to housing.
21. The excellent facilities provided for the Seminar and the warm
hospitality offered by the Danish Government to the participants and staff permitted the discussions to take place in an atmosphere conducive to a useful exchange of professional as well as technical knowledge and
experience. It also enabled professional relationships to be developed with government officials and local authorities in Denmark. It was of special interest to receive first-hand information of the functions and organization
of the City Council of Copenhagen, and the minicipality of Rodovresv'.(a
sub-urban municipality of Copenhagen).
G. Documentation
22. The working papers and reference papers prepared by the participating agencies and outside experts are listed in appendix III. Prior to the Seminar, governments in the region were requested to prepare a report concerning housing programmes and statistics in their countries, on the basis of a standard outline. These reports provided a valuable source of information for the Seminar. It was agreed that the reports should be reproduced and distributed to the participants and staff and that a supply should be maintained at ECA for reference purposes. The outline for these
E/CU.14/CAS.5/16
Page 8
reports is reproduced in appendix V. Country reports were submitted for
the following countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ifehomey, Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Libya, Malagasy, Malawi, Mauritius, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, flwanda, Somalia, Swaziland, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Republic, Upper Volta and Zambia. In addition to these country monographs, the participants prepared individual reports on certain aspects of housing programmes or housing statistics with which they were particularly well-
qualified to deal or in which they had expressed a sepoial interest.
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CHAPTER II
WORLD HOXJSIHG CONDITIONS AND INTERNATIONAL ACTION
IN THE FIELD OP HOUSING
A. World housing conditions and estimated housing requirements
23. The United Nations Development Decade I96O-I97O is mainly characterized by accelerations in population growth and in urbanization as well as by a
noticeable increase in people's hopes and aspirations for a better life.Population in most countries will double within 25 to 35 years as contrasted with the past centuries when it required a hundred years or more to accomplish the same increases. Similarly, urban centres are also
increasing, and at an even faster rate; annual increases or 4 to 6 per cent
are noted in cities around the world, especially where industrialization is being pursued with vigour. Increases as high as 12-16 per cent in urban centres have been experienced in some countries. Increasing migrations from rural to urban areas can be interpreted in some areas as an outcome of people's desire for higher incomes, better education and broader human experience, even though,in the process,these families may be intensifying the increase in slum housing.24. These characteristics of the Development Decade have their impact, of course, on housing policy and planning, both at the national level and in the field of international action aimed at assisting countries in planning and implementing schemes for improvements in this aspect of living
standards^. However, in analyzing housing needs, it is necessary to take
account not only of the dynamic effects of population growth and changing social and economic aspirations, but of present shortages in the stock of housing and the replacement rate required to counterbalance losses for the housing stock due to obsolescence or to reasons such as accidents, urban
re-development, etc. Further, a full appreciation of the present situation
1/ International activities in the field of housing policy and programmes are described later.
E/CN.14/CAS.5/16
Page 10
and its probable future course of development requires a qualitative assessment of existing housing and related facilities and services.
25. The bulk of the information required for estimating housing needs Should be obtained from-population and housing censuses or from housing surveys, or,ideally,from census data supplemented by information obtained
through housing surveys. Unfortunately, in most developing countries data
on housing are insufficient.
26. To cope with housing needs,, it is necessary to'know the size of the population and its structure and to have the movement of the population' under constant observation, ftile projections of the total population can 'be easily prepared, It is very difficult to make estimates for the urban
population, since not only simple demographic factors are involved, but also social and economic ones. Projections are generally'tased on the assumption that in the movement of the population from rural to urban areas the
existing trend will continue in the future, and that the structure of the population will be similar. The number of dwellings required will be equal
to the number of households, assuming that every household should have a
separate dwelling.
27. In the absence of a known correlation between household or family formation and population increase in most countries of Africa, Asia, La.tin America and other regions, the estimates of housing needs arising from population increase are based on the assumption that the average size of
■households in the future will be the same as that of existing- households.
In actual fact, however, the size of households is likely to decline during a period of social and economic development; for this and other reasons, estimates made according- to this hypothesis are bound to be on the low side.
28. The Seminar noted that to meet estimated requirements during the
second half of the I96O-7O decade, a total annual output of 26 million
dwellings wouldbe required in Africa, Asia and Latin America.. . She estimates assume (a) that average size of households will remain constant in eaoh
region at i960 levels and (b) that rates of replacement of losses from the
housing stock and of new building to meet existing shortages will differ
E/CN.14/CAS.5/16
Page 11
s.mewhat as between urban and rural areas and as between regions,
achievement of such a target would require an annual construction rate of approximately 11 dwellings for 1,000 inhabitants on the basis of estimated
population in the three regions in 1965--7
29 Because of the widespread laok in the developing countries of adequate statistics on new dwellings constructed, it is not possible to assess with any precision the extent to which construction is keeping pace with needs, but it can be safely said that the gap is wide and is likely to become even wider. The conclusion is supported by the fact that housing shortages
continue to exist in all regions, and the experience of the developed areas in the world reveals that around I960 an annual rate of 8 or more dwellings
per 1,000 inhabitants was achieved only in Sweden (9.l), Switzerland (9-4), the Federal Republic of Germany (10.4) and the U.S.S.H. (13-6). In the United States, Finland, the Hetherlands, Romania and Norway, the comparable
figures ranged from 7-1 to 7-5; in other European countries the rate was
in the range 6.9 to 2.1
30. The comparison between the annual housing output required in the developing areas of the world and that currently being attained emphasizes
the enormous social and economic implications of achieving the housing programmes required in the developing areas. In particular, these
implioations are such as to require that urgent attention be paid in national
and VII. This estimate is 2 millions higher than that
theUnited Nations publication, Sa
which was based on slightly different assumptions.
2/ World Population Prospects as Assessed in 1963, United Nations publication, Sales JMo.: 66.XIII.2, Table A.J*
Housing_Condjt^- »»* ^t-in^a HmiRirv* T^ujrements, op.cit.,
1/
E/W.14/CAS.5/16
Page 12
Planning in those areas to measures which would ensure adequate resources for housing and urban development and which would give them a greater role than heretofore in social and economic development.
31. There is a noticeable trend in all of the regions cf the world towards integrating housing programmes more thoroughly and comprehensively with national development programmes and especially with strategic industrial and agricultural projects. To that end, an increasing number of countries that previously did not have separate housing organizations are creating national housing agencies or ministries so as to facilitate this integration.
32. Again, more consideration is being given in planning circles, economic, social and physical, to the part that housing plays in national development and on the percentage of public and private funds that are allocated to housxng and related facilities. The United Nations has suggested that a desirable goal for total investment in this sector should be 6 per cent of
gross national product and at leaat 18 per cent of the gross'capital
formation and a growing, number of'countries are reaching towards these goals.
33. Vhile there is an increasing awareness of the need for additional funds for. housing, there is also a growing attitude of responsibility among ' technicians that such increases should net be at the expense of other essential development sectors and thatthere should be a corresponding reduction in the cost of construction and in the production of luxury
housing if the total needs are to be met.
34- One of the goals of the Development Ifecade is. to bring down the average
cost of urban dwelling units to about U.S.$ 500 and rural units to about U.S.S 100 in countries: with a per capita income of about U.S.* 100 per
year.!/
Housin*' Building and Planning in' the Development Decade
HepOrt by the Secretary General, United Nations Document'E/c.6/2
E/CN.14/CAS-5/16
Page 13
35 T^is is a very difficult task, but lower building cost levels-which would help the developing countries to bring better housing and urban
development witnin the economic reach of low-income families and within the capacity of the economies of those countries-have to be achieved. Ohis can be done through research in buildinS construction and in the production
of building materials, development of building materials based on local natural resources, organization of building construction, training people in
oonstruction work, organizing mutual and self-help teams in construction, organizing housing and building cooperatives, improving the handling and transport of materials, obtaining more continuity in house-building programmes, creating a closer coordination of clients, designers,
manufacturers, contractors and users in the building process better and
more functional designs, and modernization of building laws.-/
36. External, international capital used as a generating force for starting national financing systems has been increasing and these funds have reached
the world-wide total V.S.: 300-400 million annually in recent years. However, it has been estimated that at least two to three times this amount would be required as "seed" capital to meet the minimum needs of the developing countries. It is possible that the programme of the recently-created Development Banks in Asia and Africa, when added to the activity of the Inter-American bank, will aid in facilitating the worldwide means by which international and national funas can be generated for housing and related
facilities.
North America
nfiBfls in the developing regions and in Europe
and the U.S.S.B.
37. In the Table I, the estimated requirement of 26 million annual new dwellings in the period 1968-7O is analyzed according to its components in order to show the number of dwellings needed to meet existing shortages the numbers needed for future increases in the population and those needed
Compare the recommendations contained in the fippnrt of the ad hoc Group Experts on Housing and Urban Development, United Nations publication,
it op.cit.
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for replacing losses from the housing stock. One table also distinguishes urban and rural requirements an. in this way takes into account anticipated effects of migration to the towns. The estimated average annual rates of
population increase in the period are included for reference.
Number of additional dwellings required in Africa.
Asia and Latin America. 1Q65-70.
Region, and purpose for
which dwellings
are required
Average annual requirements
1965-70Dwelling units (millions) Total Urban Rural Africa
Total 2.3
Population increase.. 1.5
Replacement 1.2
Existing shortages .. 0.8
Asia
Total 19.2
Population increase . S.y
Replacement 74
Existing shortages ., 4.9
Latin AmericaTotal ....3.3
Population increase 1.6
Replacement 1.0
Existing shortages .. 0.7
0-7
4-5 2.7 1.1 0.7
1.
1.3
0.3 0.22.8 0.
0.
0.
5
l i
- l l 0
.0 .1 -7
4.2 4.2
6.3
4.2
1.5 0.3
0.7
0.5Estimated rates of population
increase
Total Urban Total
2-5 5-0 2.0
1-9 3.
1.5
2.9 5-8 • 0.9
}!OxU H°USi^ "onditioriB and Estimated Housi ng Requirement, on.nn.. . Chapters I, II and III. The rates of population increase used therein and cited in the above table correspond with the rates used in preparing the
"medium" variant of the population projections contained in World Population
Prospects as Assessed in 1963. op. cit.
E/CK.14/CAS.5/16
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38. Considerable emphasis was given by the Seminar to the high rate of population increase in urban areas which is currently increasing at about
twice the rate operating in rural areas. Attempts to formulate housing policies and programmes must, of course, be strongly influenced by this
disparity which has already caused a deterrioration in housing conditions m
the towns.
39. tte annual rates of new construction implicit in the figures given in the table would be 15-0 and 9-5 per 1,000 inhabitants per annum in urban and rural areas,respectively, in the three regions combined, for the period
1965-70.^ So far as is known, in the three regions around i960 the only
two instances of adequate annual rates of new construction were Japan and Hong Kong,^ In Africa, available data refer to targets set by development plans rather than to actual performance in the building industry. These
target figures range from 2 to 8 per 1,000^, levels which in the light of
estimated requirements, are obviously inadequate to solve the problem.
40. In Europe and Uorth America the situation is on the whole much more favourable and rates of construction have been sufficient to alleviate housing shortages, though not sufficient to eliminate them, there still
exist considerable numbers of people on whom poverty imposes overcrowding and/or lack of the elementary hygienic and sanitary facilities.
41. The U.S.S.R. has attained the highest rate of dwelling construction in the world, and, in the process, has improved the housing situation to an extent which offers good prospects of eliminating the housing shortages and of
providing adequate accomodation for the whole population.
C. Housing conditions and Policies in Africa
42. As compared with the rest of the world, the African'region is not yet subject to acute demographic pressure. In terms of density of settlement, 1/ Morld Housing Conditions and Estimated Housing Requirements, op. cit.,
Chapter I
Zj Ibid., para. 60
3/ Ibid., Chapter II
E/CK.14/CAS.5/16
Page 16
the African figure is 114 persons per square kiloraetre Qf apable
jf and in Asia the .corresponding figures are 206 and 377
respecti.vely.-V %e- over_.all rate
region, ana there are areas where population pressure is acute. Likewise
;the over-all rate of population increase .around 2.5 per cent per annum in the mid-1960's) conceals wide sub-regional differences.
43. However, the basic fact is that demographic and socio-economic
pressures have combined to produce a housing situation which is inadequate both quantitatively and qualitatively, except in certain special instances within countries. In the near future, the situation threatens to become much more acute, since the rise in gross national product is unlikely tc
keep pace with the expected acceleration in the rate of population increase
consequent upon expected declines in mortality.
44- Country monographs planted V tia participants re-inforced the
present difficulties facing the governments of the region in assessing housing conditions and needs and in attempting tc formulate policies and
programmes. Ohese monographs are too voluminous to be included in the
present report but their value underlies and strengthens the whole structure of the discussions and conclusions of the Seminar.
45- An attempt was made to describe housing conditions in Africa in terms of the-statistical indicators recommended by the Statistical Commission for the United Nations as convenient summary measures of the housing component
of levels of living.-/ However, since housing statistics are a relatively
new field of inquiry in the region, it was not possible to provide a really comprehensive review of conditions on the basis of the indicators in African countries: not only were there elements of non-comparability in the avail able data but there was also-'setae concentration on urban areas at the ■ '
expense of rural areas. - - -
1/ Economic Commission for Africa. Economic H,,na^ -^
Vol. V., January 1965, Table B2. '
Statistical indicators is set out in statistical
1"g C™dm^ United ^^s publication, .Sales No.:
E/CN,14/CAS. 5/3-6
Page IT46. In particular, it was not possible to reach any firm conclusions on the extent to which the population is enjoying the benefits of sound and durable housing; this was mainly because of the lack of clear distinction between housing units of different types and, specifically, the frequent lack of data on "permanent" housing units. In regard to measures of density of occupation of housing units and of the facilities available in these units, some useful tentative conclusions emerged:
(a) Between 25 and 50 per cent of town dwellers are living in
conditions of extreme overcrowding, with 3 or more persons per room. The average number of persons per room reflects these conditions of extreme overcrowdings in tvo urban surveys the density is 3 persons per room, in 5 it lies in the range 2.5 to 2.9, in another 5 the range is 2.0 to 2.4, while for the remaining towns it approaches 2 persons per room. Data on density per room are very scarce for the rural areas 5 however, where such data are available, they suggest that there is a problem of overcrowding in rural as well as in urban housing. Before any conclusions can be reached on the matter, thorough investigation should be undertaKen, with careful definition
of the concepts involved in the inquiry, and, where it seems desirable, with provisions for evaluating the data on rooms against data on living space.
(b) Some towns are comparatively well off in respect of a protected water supply, but the proportion of urban housing with safe water varies very widely, from the order of 100 per cent to as low as 10 per cent. For most of rural Africa, as fcr most of the rural areas in the less-developed
world, protected water is almost non-existent.
(c) The majority of urban housing units appear to be reasonably
equipped with toilets, though the existence of areas where 50 and even 80
per cent of the housing units lack any toilet facilities constitutes a serious risk to health in the closely-settled conditions of town life.
Flush toilets are still a rarity,
E/ON.14/CAS.5/16
Page 18
sanitat! , overcrowding and of lack of the ,asic ^
17tat0 ^ Pr°teOted «*» is feting, ^e situation is serious
and must deteriorate unless strong measures are taken.
48. Indeed, the situation in many African countries is particularly
i rr 7that the senerai °onoern to *™ ^^ - - >-
Id to he formulation of any housing policy as part of the national plan,
or t he estabnshfflent of the neogssary execuwve bQdies_ ^ ^>
" °ft6n E 8h°rtaSe °f Seni°r admini^-tive and technical staff
planning and exeouuve ieveig_ ^ ^ ^ particularly
smaller ones, there is no efficient ouilding industry to serve as the
: r::P:;::for a housing pouoy' - - °f -——-
49- So far aB socio-economic factors are concerned, it was found that the
national product .e^it, in the independent African memter ^
Economic Coii .^, he independent African memter ^
he Economic Commission for Africa amounted, at the beginning of the sxxtxes, to aw one hundred United States dollars, notwithstanding
«ae aw 15O dollars, as against som 70 dll dollars, as against some 70 dollars in East Africa). On average, gross national capital formation amounted to 18 per cent of the
«NP again ntt sharp suVregional (2223
si<ria East Afrioa) and nationai
and 10 per cent in Uganda).
50
Low income levels have an effect hoth on the national economy,
eg::ir;y :rie to finanoe vast h— —— ~: j
the xndxvadual household, which often cannot afford a decent dwelling because of high maintenance costs and amortisation of capital invested.
51- Tte distinction drawn between rural and urban housing must be
emphasized. Eural housing and community facilities are in all countries
considered poor, particularly from the point of view of quality. It was
noted, however, that the position in rural areas has probably not worsened
E/CN.14/CAS.5/16
Page 19
in absolute terms; it has teen bad for centuries. The new factor is that a growing fraction of the population, particularly among younger people, and/or those retired from employment in the urtan areas, is accepting the situation less and le.s; it considers the inherited conditions increasingly intolerable as the economy acquires a monetary basis and as greater contact is established with the more developed urban areas. As a result limited numbers of better constructed houses in permanent materials are being
erected in the more prosperous areas.
52. The situation in urban areas is generally more serious than in the countryside. Not only is the population increasing twice as fast as in rural areas, but even the community self-help which palliates rural poverty is generally not forthcoming. Then again, south of the Sahara particularly,
towns were not designed to house large masses of people. During the colonial era, most of them were merely administrative or trading centres, equipped only to accommodate relatively small European populations. Few of the
development plans prepared since have been in keeping with the new realities, and even fewer have been implemented in the field. Such inaustry as exists is generally rudimentary and offers only very few jobs for the migrants pouring into the large towns. Unregulated urban growth has led to a proliferation of shanty-towns and of uncontrolled areas of unhealthy
traditional housing which account for a large proportion of the urban stock.
53. The African countries have reacted in very different ways to what seems a general situation. In some instances, the situation has been analyzed from
the standpoint of effective- demand and the bulk of available resources has been spent on meeting the housing requirements of a limited fraction of the urban population. Sometimes, more thought has been given to building
comfortable dwellings than to developing the town as a whole. In other cases,
the land has been parcelled up, but the problem of housing the masses has
barely been considered and the over-all position is worsening.
E/CN,14/CAS.5/l6
Page 20
54. Elsewhere, an effort has teen made to utilize resources in a way which will improve the housing conditions of a wider section of the populat ion? in other words, greater attention has been given to solutions, such as on-the-spot rehabilitation of shanty-towns and the development of their community facilities, or to site-and-service schemes which, as part of larger schemes, provide the urban population with a technical and sanitary infractructure and community facilities. The building of dwellings as such has then been left entirely to the initiative and pocket of the beneficiary who is assisted either by the construction of a concrete floor and washroom or of a low-cost room, the provision of technical assistance (in the form of a standard plan or of supervision by skilled workers or advisers), or by the
supply of building materials on credit.
55- In other countries where the economic conditions are better of political pressures more acute, fairly large low-cost housing programmes have been started. Since most of these programmes have been financed from public funds, it has b:en possible to spread the depreciation rate over a relatively long period and reduce financial charges to a level compatible with the resources of the intending occupants.
56. Once the public authorities have realized the acuteness and importance of the housing problem and decided on a policy as an integral part of the national development plan, tha most urgent problem is to set up a public body responsible for all activities related to housing and community
facilities. At the governmental level, this body generally takes the form of a specialized ministry or department within a ministry. It should
assume responsibility for carrying into practice national planning in the
field of housing, take the initiative in respect of townplanning and urban development, prepare, in consultation with the Ministry or Planning a housing policy based on evaluated requirements and selected priorities, and concern itself with the financing of that policy and with related land problems.
Such ministries sometimes engage directly in the implementation of housing
or building programmesj in other cases, a specialized body, office,
E/CU.14/CAS.5/16
Page 21
development company or housing corporation is made responsible for the actual development and management of the stock thus created. Although it was realized that very few countries have yet reached such a degree of
organization, emphasis was given to the need to bring all housing activities under a single authority, so as to avoid duplication and waste and make the
best possible use of the limited resources available.
57. It was also noted that one of the main difficulties to be overcome by African countries in implementing their building programmes is the high cost of erecting dwellings and community facilities. This high cost is explained by a number of factors, one of the most important being the cost
of building materials which all too often have to be imported at great
expense. Among other things, the Secretariat of the Economic Commission for Africa has discovered that 55-60 per cent of the 1,200 - 1,300 million
dollars which Africa devotes each year to building materials is spent on imported materials. Then again, the building industry is costly to run, chiefly owing to the shortage of skilled labour, the lack of continuity, the fact that building programmes are not properly prepared and, often,
nf thfi Sahara, to the absence of local contractors.
58. It was therefore stressed that one of the basic conditions for
effectively improving housing conditions within the framework of a long-term policy would be the creation, where none exists, of a building materials industry at the sub-regional level or at the national level if the country concerned offers a fairly wide market of its own. In this respect, it was noted that calculations made by the secretariat of the Economic Commission for Africa show that the amount of investment required to ensure that by 1970 the local production of building materials will cover the requirements of the continent, in so far as they can be estimated at present, is about the same as the annual amount which will have to be spent on imports if the present production capacity remains static. The total volume of such investments
would, moreover, represent only a fraction (one-seventh or one-eighth) of the total amount spent on imports during the same period—/.
l/ See Housing in Africa; United Nations publication (Sales No.: 66.II.K.4)?
page 175 of "the English edition.
E/CN.14/CAS.5/16
Page 22
Id play ^ thxs resPect Was stressed
several occasions, and the Seminar e*PresSed the hoPe that the Bconomi Ccssxon TOUH strengthen its actxvxty in this fxeld in the future.
D a Commissions an.
General informat.-i
r8> buildine and pianning Or^i.ation is active. The United Nations has six main is ^ ^«* *
organs Of these, the General Aese-Uy discusses any questions put to it relevant to these suhoeots,. it may initiate studles and ^ reoommendat
Id IT; ^ aPPr0V6S te bUdS"et °f thS «^"««- ^ Economic
and So Counoil fflay alsQ ^ ^ initiate gtudieg ^d ^ts
these fleldB and raakes recom,endations to the General Assembly and to the
Members of the United Nations. This Council =i
wl+, . + aiS Council also arranges for consultation
with xnternatxonal and national nongovernmental agencies and calls inter- natxonal conferences; it may, furthermOTe, wif,h the approval of the
General Assemhlv perform services at the request of Meiers of the United
^atxons and at the revest of the BpeoialiBed afeencies. To assist to Council
« renewing the many activities within its competence there are several expert hodies, and those which deliberate on housing, huilding and Planning and closel. related Prohleras a,e : the Committee on Homing, Building and Hannxng, the Statistxcal Commission, the Population Commission, the Social
Commxssxon and the Committee for Industrial Development.
61. The secretariat is the organ of the United Nations which is mainly
responsible for the implementation of the substantive programmes. (The other fxve organs are the General Assembly and the Economic and Social
Council noted above, as well as the Security Council, the Trusteeship Council
and the International Court of Justice). Within the secretariat every office
e/cu.u/cas. 5/16
Page 23
undertakes some activity which touches on housing, building and planning;
but those which have carried out tc date the major work in these fields the Centre for Housing, gliding and Planning, the substantive office for these activities, the Statistical Office, the office concerned with housing statistics ona world-wide basis, the Bureau of Social Affairs, the Centre for Industrial Development, OTICEF, the Bureau of Technical Assistance and
the Office of Speical Fund Operations.
62. All of the Regional Commissions of the United Nations include within their organizations Housing, Building and Planning Sections. These sections now have a total of 13 regular staff members and 7 regional advisers of which the Bconomic Commission for Africa had,.at July 1966,4 staff members
and 3 regional advisers.
63. The Specialized Agencies of the United Nations have programmes within which they have activities which are closely related to housing, building and planning programmes, for example; the International Labour Organization(lLO)
provides assistance in the training of workers in the construction industry and promotes better housing for workers? the Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO) provides assistance in the development of agricultural and forestry products and by-products for building materials, while in the physical planning field it has a basic interest in land uses for agriculture;
the. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
provides assistance in the building of schools and in the teaching of
architects, engineers, builders, administrators, planners and otherB who will be in housing, building and planning fields* the Korld Health Organization
(WHO) provides assistance in the development of sanitary and water facilities, of health codes that affect housing and community standards and air and water
pollution; the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD .or the "World Bank"), the International Development Association (IDA) and the
International Finance Corporation (IFC) assist member governments in making loans for building materials industries, and for municipal water supplies and school construction; the joint United Nations/FAO Viorld Food Programme has provided food aid as partial financing of projects that have included to
date the building of new villages for resettlement, self-help housing, slum
E/CN.14/CAS.5/16
Page 24
clearance and reconstruction after earthquakes. All of the Specialized Agencies rely heavily on housing statistics, where they are available, in planning theirworld-;,ide, regional and country projects.
64. Co-ordination of the'above activities is carried out at various levels within the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council, the Committee on Housing, Building and Planning, the sacretariat, the Regional Commissions and their sub-regional offices "by an Administrative Co-ordination Committee
which meets periodically and usually in conjunction with the meetings of the Committee on Housing, Building and Planning, and within the individualcountries by the Resident Representatives.
Major activities of the secretariat and the regional commissions
65. The activities of the secretariat and the Regional commission in the
fields of housing, building and planning are mainly concerned with providing information and advice, when requested, to member governments; theseactivities can be categorized as follows;
(a) Technical assistance (b) Special Fund activities (c) Studies and reports
(d) United Nations and Specialized Agencies joint
projects.
66. Within the technical assistance programmes there is provision for experts in a wide variety of fields. For example, during 1965, over 125
experts, 18 associate experts, 7 regional advisers and 4 inter-regional
advisers were provided to 51 countries and for 15 regional projects in such diverse subjects as national, regional and urban planning, housing policy and programming, housing censuses and surveys, housing finance and design, pilot projects, self-help, building materials, construction, industrialized building methods, the social aspects of housing, urbanization, environmental development and housing administration. The majority of these expertsremain in countries or regional offices for one to two years while a few
e/cn.h/cas. 5/16
Page 25
have remained for two to five years. The Inter-Regional Advisers and the Regional Advisers are available to countries for relatively short periods and in situations calling for advice at the policy level.
67. The technical assistance programmes also include the provision of
regional and inter-regional seminars, workshops, study tours and exhibitions.
The series of seminars on housing statistics and programmes held in
Copenhagen and financed, through the United Nations,mainly by the Government of Denmark starting with Latin America in 1962, and continuing with Asia and the Far East in 1963, and the present meeting in Africa in 1966 is an example of this programme. Another form of technical assistance is the provision of funds for pilot projects varyinL from US 4p 500 to 10,000 and usually matched by funds from member countries which have been provided through
the United Nations to a few countries. In Africa, those that have benefited include Somalia, Guinea, Ethiopia, Togo, United Arab Republic, and Malawi.
Also included in the Technical Assistance programme is the important activity of providing fellowships for study in other countries5 in 1965, for example, over 80 fellowships in the fields of housing, building and planning were
provided.
68. The Special Fund Programme in housing, building and planning has been growing steadily since I960 with an accolerating number of projects since 1963. Active projects now total nine and include the Building Materials Development Laboratory, Indonesia: the National Institute for Physical
Planning and Construction, Ireland; Skopje Urban Plan, Yugoslavia; Institute of Urban and Regional Planning, Argentina; Location and Planning of Cities in Bast Pakistan; Central Authority for Housing and Town Planning,
Afghanistan;. Urban and Regional Planning, Republic of China; Urban Development and Renewal, Singapore, and Urban Research and Planning,
Venezuela. TCiese nine projects total over US » 5,000,000 in United Nations fund obligations and can be considered, therefore, large-scale projects and
contrasted with the rather low-cost pilot projects mentioned above. On the
other hand, the government contribution to the Special Fund Projects is
14/CAS. 5/16
Page 26
,
69. Studies and reports are en
r -"■■•
important part of
e for eStaWishillg targets and
standards for housing and —,Bntal devalopaont, fiDan08 for l
a land U39 and
er^e^^
generally vithin the specific pro6ra,EeE, the newest pro3ra.,es!in this ca,_scry _
preeentl, under and panning
ean»
Committee
71. On the tasis of the recognition of the Social Cohesion,
Plannxng, to provxde stronger and
morespoc.ali.ed leadership in this
and area
In,
and
T that it should report to ECOSOC through the Social
and also forward lt. report to the Cc-oitf, for Industr.al Development and
b/cn.14/cas. 5/16
Page 27
to the regional economic commissions for counts, so as to evolve the appropriate integration of housing and urban development programmes with
economic, social and industrial development programmes.
73 ^. ^onsibilit.i^ of the Committee. The terms of reference of the Committee of Housing, Building and Planning include responsibilities for:
(a) Examination of reports concerning technical assistance activities in the field of housing, building and related community facilities and
physical planning;
(b) Recommendations for the Economic and Social Council's appropriate co-ordination of these programmes among the various United Nations bodies, including the regional economic commissions, and with other international
agencies;
(c) Recommending to Governments, through SCOSOC, the appropriate priorities and programmes in the field of housing and related community
facilities and physical planning;
(d) Promotion of research and of the exchange and dissemination of experience and information in these fields, with special reference to the
needs of developing countries;
(e) Development of proposals for consideration by appropriate United Nations bodies and others, on such matters as financing of home construction
and ownership, provision of land for home and community facilities at
reasonable cost, designs suitable for low-cost housing in different climates and cultures, improved building materials and their better use, and ways of promoting acceptance and adoption of efficient organizational and building
techniques;
(f) Development of means and methods for the increased utilization of
regional economic commissions in these fields.
74. Composition of the Committee. The Committee is composed of twenty-one
member Governments of the United Nations, who (in accordance with operative
paragraph 1 of the Council's resolution) are elected by ECOSOC on a basis of
E/CN.14/CAS.5/16
Page 28
equitable geographical distribution and a balance between developing and industrialized countries. It is further stipulated that Governments designate their representatives in agreement with the Secretary-General, with a view to achieving as far as possible, a balanced coverage of required expertise in housing, building and urban development.
75. At its first session, the Committee on Housing, Building and Planning focussed attention on stimulating national, regional and international activities in housing, building and environmental planning with special
reference to the United Nations Development Decade.-^/
76. At its second session, in 1964, the Committee adopted six resolutions.
These recommended, among, other things, the establishement within the United Nations Secretariat of a centre for housing, building and planning, the allocation to housing of an "appropriate share" of resources released by disarmament, the rapid development of national industries in housing and in building in the developing countries, and the direction of international assistance in housing toward the financing of housing and the establishement of building materials and components industries.-^
77. These resolution were subsequently adopted by the Economic and Social Council at its thirty-seventh session. In accordance with the Council recommendation, a separate organizational unit, the United Nations Centre for Housing, Building and Planning, was created on 28 June 1965.
78. In 1965, at its third session, the Committee adopted resolutions
dealing with: training of national cadres in this field; the establishment of a United Nations Institute for Documentation on Housing, Building and Planning;, the social aspects of housing and urban developments and the organizational status of the Centre. In addition, the Committee adopted a work programme in this field which is reviewed and up-dated annually.
Committee on Housing, Building and Planning, Report of the First Session
SesUnited Nations publication (3/3719/Rov.1). ■ . ' " '" ' ~~ ' Committee on Hcucing, Bui 1 din/; ^nd Planning, Roportof tho Socond Session
United Nations publication (B/3858). " ™
/. 5/16
Page 29
riant,™ for Housing, Building_and Planning
79. The United Kations Headquarters activities in housing, building,
physical planning and urban development first began in an organized way about 1950, and are presently earned out through the Centre for Housing, Building and Planning working in close ,0-operation with the Bureau of Technical
Assistance Operations (BTAO), the United Nations Development Programme and the regional economic commissions, as Hell as other related functional unite, such as the Centre for Industrial Development Development (CID), the
Statistical Office and the various offices of the Bureau of Social Affairs.
80. In pursuance of Economic and Social Council resolution 1024 C(XXXVIl), the Housing, Building and Planning Branch was reconstituted, as of 28 June 1965, as- the Centre for Housing, Building and Planning with the following
functions:
"-to provide ™,^i— -^ documentation for the Secretariat and the Committee on Housing, Building and Planning and any adjioc groups
established in the housing field;- to serve as the focal point for conducting housing, building and
^annlng activities vithin the Secretariat, and for co-ordxnatxng these
activities with those of other agencies?
- to prepare special studies and provide advice to Governments on housing building?industrialization of building, urban and regional planning and
physical planning aspects of urbanization;
- to organize interregional meetings and study tours on selected subjects
relateTto housing,"building and planning, and help to organic regional
seminars and meetings on such subjects as the financing of housing, ■
low-cost housing, urban and regional planning?
- to review and provide evaluation of Special Fund and xechnica^assistance and projects in the field of housing, building and planning. -/
81. In 1966, the Centre consisted of a Director's and Deputy Director's office and four substantive units, a Housing Section, a Gilding Section, a Section for Physical Planning, and a new section for Research and
Training.
1/ Secretary-Generalig^Bulletin (ST/SGB/l28/Amend.3).
B/CN.14/CAS. 5/16
Page 30
Role of the Statistical Office in the field of
82. The activities of the Statistical Office in the field of housing are
concerned primarily with the collection and publication of world-wide housing statistics and with the development and improvement of housing statistics in
member countries.
